Notes

Going home from university this morning (the schedule is kind of messed up), I rode the bus past this lovely scene at Aachen West station, so I fetched my camera and returned immediatedly. Visible is 120 502, one of two class 120 locomotives owned by DB Systemtechnik, the technology division of the DB group. I had seen her sister 120 501 pushing a boring Intercity, but this is the real deal, with a measurement train apparently called “Rail Lab”.

To commemorate the occasion, belgian DLC (Dillon & Le Jeune Cargo, an open access freight operator) has apparently received at least one new class 66 (new for them, according to the labels it was built in 2007), which is finally black, as all locomotives owned by MRCE, the leasing company in question, should be, but aren’t yet. Interestingly, this is the new european version, with additional doors and an improved (and throughway-blocking, hence the doors) exhaust treatment facility. These units are no longer homologated for use in Great Britain, which is still four-door country.